The packaging process is very manual and analog for most consumer goods companies. This makes it ripe for digitization, and companies who digitize fastest will gain an advantage. When leaders provide digital tools for their teams, they can reap serious business benefits like reduced cost, improve quality, reduced risk, increased visibility and increased agility.

A woman visits a store and sees something interesting on the shelf. She wants to know more about the item, so she pulls out her smartphone, opens the Amazon Flow app and points the phone's camera at the product. Within seconds, her phone is filled with information. She now has the option to read about the product and either buy it at the store or add it to her Amazon cart on the app.

In this edition of Pack Snacks, Ashley Joyce speaks with X-Rite’s Printing and Portfolio Manager, Ray Cheydleur and  VP, Brand Global Strategic Accounts, Cindy Cooperman about Nestlé’s former candy brands getting a new refresh, how speed to market is correlated to the ever-growing amount of indie and start-up beauty brands and how major brands are also looking to increase their new product roll-out to cash-in.

Esko held its’ 27th annual conference (EskoWorld) for Esko users on June 5-7 in San Antonio, Texas. Brand leaders, graphic and structural designers, trade shops, sign makers and packaging and label converters heard about trends shaping the industry, witnessed emerging technologies, shared ideas and gained product knowledge at the three-day event.

One of our editors, Ashley Joyce had the opportunity to speak with Chip Tonkin, Chair of the Graphic Communications Department and also Director of The Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University. Prior to being at Clemson, he spent 13 years with International Paper. She also spoke with Jeff Rhodehamel, the Chair of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences and Associate Director of The Sonoco Institute at Clemson University. Prior to Clemson, he worked at Cryovac Sealed Air for 18 years. Combined they both have a total of more than 45 years experience in packaging industry.

In today’s connected world, consumers are more informed than ever before. This means consumers can now walk into commerce transactions armed with research about any particular brand or product. It also means that consumers have a more in-depth understanding and exposure to the local and global impacts of socially irresponsible practices, whether it be water shortages, food poverty and poor air quality. As a result, many consumers have adopted more sustainable behaviors, and expect the same from the brands they purchase.

In this edition of Pack Snacks, Esko’s Product Manager, Susie Stitzel, Global Marketing Solutions Manager, Kathy Drommerhausen, MediaBeacon’s Product Manager, Timothy Sixta and Danaher Product Identification’s Director of Customer Experience and Insights, Danielle Sauvé discuss Target’s new distribution strategy, the digitization of retail and how packaging design can reduce damage created in transit.

Executives want to see a newly designed package in real life before they approve it. After all, it’s hard to imagine a lifeless, 2D proof flying off the shelves. But the analog packaging industry method of showing executives design mockups—printing, folding, cutting, and superimposing the design onto a dummy container—is less efficient and less effective than what could be done with virtual reality (VR).

In our visual culture, color cosmetics are the epitome of self-expression, and emotions evoked through color cosmetics can range from absolute disgust all the way to pure unadulterated delight. Color choices, combinations and applications create the story for the consumer, and the dynamics of color are a very personal experience, as it easily changes the way you view yourself and how you present yourself to others.